Quick Hits, Vol. 373 (HAIM, Jade Bird, Lifeguard, Clipse)

It is not in this review, but when I tell you that I just ran onto Spotify to add Snocaps when I saw something about a new album by the Crutchfield sisters and MJ Lenderman, I mean that I did that shit like a crazy person while grunting HELL YEAH under my breath.  As soon as I finish one more stream through Clipse, that is getting rolled up and smoked into my earholes.

HAIM - I quit.  I think a tighter set would have benefitted this album, because there are some really good ones on here and then there is some filler than could have been dropped out of the 53 minute runtime.  Some oddly placed but immediately recognizable references though, with George Michael popping up in "Gone" and U2 grinding its way into "Now It's Time".  I honestly find that one to be unnecessary and distracting.  But then I think some of these tunes, "Relationships," "Down to be wrong," "Everybody's trying to figure me out" are pretty great (even if I sort of miss the harder edge of their prior music).  The stream count on the album was actually interesting.  Would not have expected for one song to have more than 30 million and then no other song crack 10.  I guess my judgment on filled tunes wasn't so wrong.  "Relationships" is the one with 31.2 million.

Am I weird for really wanting to see the outside of that Land Cruiser when they were first just standing around the outside of it?  But I legit like the chorus to that one, and then the bridge is even cooler with that funky bassline popping up.  Enjoyable at times, unremarkable at others.  Too bad, I was hoping for another top tier disc like Days Are Gone.

Jade Bird - Nobody.  I really want to like this, and at times I can convince myself that I do, and then I'll be listening again and think about how strained her voice sounds.  She doesn't always strain it, she can have a lovely voice, but she just does some thing with it where she'll push harder than she needs to, I guess for effect, and it makes me turn.  But, I will say "Avalanche" is pretty purely lovely without any of that.  But "Dreams" has some of the straining.  I don't know, I keep listening - its only four songs - and my critique seems less valid each time.  These are pretty songs.  Check out "Who Wants" with 568k streams.

Hey vocals make me think of Jewel on the chorus here.  And again, such a pretty tune.  I'll never understand why actors think they should remove the phone from their hand and look at the handset as they are arguing.  Has any real person ever, in the history of mankind, thought that they should pull back the camera-free handset of an old school telephone to eyeball it in the middle of a heated argument?  That is horseshit.  Anyway, nice little EP.

There is a YouTube ad I keep getting served for an R&B song that makes me want to die.  The young lady sings something to the effect of "OOOOOH, I want you to come through, AND fillllll this vacancy" as she writhes in front of a motel.  Stop showing me this!

Lifeguard - Ripped and Torn.  This is one that I probably should have just tried a time or two and then deleted.  My friend Marshall gave it a very positive review, and its a little two discordant and jarring for me.  Some bits, I'm like, oooh, cool, this is like some punky old Devo and its neat! But then a moment later I'm like oh no, please stop that sound.  I guess this is garage rock, maybe experimental punk?  Pretty basic set of drum beats, jagged guitar riffs, and unremarkable bass.  Top track is called "It Will Get Worse," and has 231k streams.  Only one other track breaks the 100k mark.

That fluffy little doodle is going to bite your ankle bro!  Run!  But yeah, this song has much less of the dissonant pain-inducing bits, just a good straight-forward power rocker.  "Like You'll Lose" has a droning quality to the singing that keeps it in my brain, even as the chiming guitar drives me away.  This one may be your new favorite, but it's not doing it for me.

Clipse - Let God Sort Em Out.  The negative influence of excitement, man.  When this was released, if you read the people on Twitter, the Mona Lisa of rap had just been released.  I think part of why I am disappointed is just that this thing was released as though it was the comeback of the century, and then it's just kinda fine.  I thought Hell Hath No Fury was a freaking cool as shit rap album.  And don't get me wrong, this isn't a hard no by any means.  It just doesn't have much in the way of the immediate bangers, the unstoppable perfect rap tracks.  The beat in "So Be It" is cool as hell, but the lyrics are kinda just okay.  Ever since Bend It Like Beckham, if you give me some rap featuring Middle Eastern flavor, I'm intrigued.  The lyrics in "Birds Don't Sing" are very affecting, and yet the beat is pretty tame.  The top single was "Ace Trumpets," and I can't get over the line where he says "yellow diamonds look like peepee."  How can I suggest a song that says that childish ass shit?  C'mon y'all.  I wanted to use a song from this for my Music League entry, but just couldn't locate the killer track that would knock people over.  But you will absolutely see me right now in my office bobbing my head to the "Inglorious Bastards" or "M.T.B.T.T.F." beats.  "Chains & Whips," which features Kendrick, is the top streamer with 28.4 million streams.

Yeah, that is a good rap song.  This feels like the rap album people are supposed to like - that Kendrick album called something like Uncle Granny and the Power Buddy or whatever.  I'm supposed to appreciate it for the skill applied, and I think I do, but I also kind of want something that bangs and gets me excited.  I'll probably keep it around and keep wandering through it, but I am a little disappointed that it didn't sound instant classic.